Monday, December 15, 2014

Tritons Edge Gators in Overtime Thriller

Coach Gray talks to the Tritons during Friday's game

box scoreLYNNWOOD -- Edmonds Community College got a measure of revenge Friday night in Seaview Gym when the Tritons defeated Green River 88-82 in an overtime thriller. The Gators topped EdCC 76-61 earlier in the year. Friday's win pushed EdCC's season record to 4-2.Zach Pederson led Edmonds with 21 points and 11 rebounds but it was Charlie Smith and his four three-pointers that were the difference. Three of Smith's treys came in during the last seven minutes of Friday's non-league tilt and two were on back-to-back possessions in overtime. The score went back-and-forth all game. Edmonds trailed by as much as six in the first but went into the break with a six-point lead. The Gators stormed back and retook the lead at 15:55 in the second stanza. The Tritons fell behind by as many as seven points (71-64) with six minutes remaining in regulation.Buckets by Smith, Sam Omondi and two free throws by Pederson brought EdCC to within one. But the Gatos would hold off the Tritons and be in front by four with just 46 seconds left. Pederson sank a jumper and Smith would force a steal on the next Gator possession which led to a bucket by Destine Kawaka. That shot evened the score at 77-77. A Green River offensive foul gave Edmonds the opportunity to win the game in regulation by Jas Coulson's layup circled in and out of the hoop when time expired.Pederson made the first basket of overtime, followed by another by Omondi (who would score 19 points). The Gators evened the score with four consecutive points and eventually led by one until the back-to-back threes from Smith gave EdCC the lead for good. Edmonds shot 45 percent and scored 27 points on three-pointers. The Gators shot 49 percent and had 24 points off of treys. The Tritons out-rebounded GRCC 40-33. Blake Fernandez added 11 points and five assists for EdCC.Bernard Sanders led Green River (5-3) with 20 points with both CM Garrett and Damon Cikanek adding 17 points. The Tritons will be at home on Wednesday to host South Puget Sound. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm.